The first successful rotorcraft was a gyroplane, designed by Sr. Juan de La Cierva in Spain and flown on 17th of January, 1923. His success created much interest world wide and led to the development of the first successful helicopter, the Focke-Wulf, Fw 61 which was first flown in June of 1936 in Germany. In 1933, the Focke-Wulf Co. built Cierva C.19 and C.30 gyroplanes under license. However, in the same year Prof. Focke was displaced by the National Socialists and he started a small company called Focke-Achgelis in which he devoted his full time to rotary wing aircraft. He conducted over 2,000 wind tunnel tests to prove his concept. He would go on to help design the first large helicopter, the Fa 223, that could lift 1,500 lbs. It had a cruise speed of 125 mph.1

Prof. Heinrich Focke with a model of his Fa 223. Although the first Fa 223 was built in 1939, production did not start until 1942. It was far ahead of its time and was used during WWII to lift heavy canons and guns.1

The Fw 61 surprised everyone when it set many world records in 1937. The altitude record was increased from 502 ft to 8,000 ft. The distance record was increased from half a mile to 67 miles and the airspeed was increased by 77 mph with Ewald Rholfs at the controls. It could fly several thousands of miles. It could be flown by any pilot after a one hour verbal briefing. Even today, no helicopter can boast such ease in piloting.1

The Fw 61 with Hanna Reitsch at the controls

The Fa 223 had a gross weight of 8,000 lbs and could fly at 125 mph up to 23,400 ft. Although 47 were built, most of them were destroyed in bombing raids. The craft could be piloted with the tip of a finger. It was the first helicopter to cross the English Channel in September, 1945.

To the delight of thousands, Ms. Hanna Reitsch demonstrated the Fw 61 every evening during February, 1938 in the "Deutschlandhalle" in Berlin, Germany.
She was the most remarkable pilot in the world: first woman airline captain,
first woman to fly a helicopter, first woman to fly a rocket aircraft, first
woman to fly a jet and one of the best glider pilots who still set glider
record flights at the age of 75.

On the left, Anton Flettner in front of a production run of Fl 282 helicopters. The FL 282 helicopter was the world's first helicopter that passed certification and went into mass production. The Fl 282 "Kolibri" was ready for production in 1940. Because of bombing, only 25 Fl 282's had been built by the end of the war. However, it was the most used helicopter during WWII.

In 1947 Flettner was brought to the US under "Operation Paperclip." He died in New York in 1961 at the age of 76.1

An Fl 282 Helicopter being winched to the deck of a boat. This method is still used today for landing on ships.

Click here to see Fl 282 in flight.

Flettners' twin intermeshing rotor system is still used today on the Kaman helicopters.
These helicopters are the easiest to fly helicopters in the world. Ask anyone
who has flown one. The use of a tail-rotor make the helicopter much more
difficult to pilot.

Two
observers are seating in the back of a Fl 282 Helicopter for observation.

The Fa 330 gyroglider was towed
on a 300 foot cable behind submarines for aerial
observation. About 200 were built but the use of
radar in 1943, by the Allies, made the
gyroglider a risk to the operation of the
submarine. Only a few were put into operation.
When not in use, the glider was stored in two
tubes below the submarines deck. The pilot had a
telephone with which he could talk to the
submarine captain.

The FA 330 glider was designed
by Gunnar Michelson working at Focke Achgelis in
1942. Gunnar is a friend of the web host.
Living in Santa Barbara, CA. Gunnar invented
film copying machines for the film industry
which his son manufactures and he has received
two Oscars from Hollywood for his design.